Table lock



Dec. 5, 1933. E. w. NORTH 7 1,937,584

TABLE LOCK Filed April 17, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l .Jn uerz-for M655 MW, W mm 20 Dec. 5, 1933. E. w. NORTH 1,937,

TABLE LOCK Filed April 17, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Eda/[72 Z0. JVarf/z E. W. NORTH Dec. 5, 1933.

TABLE LOCK Filed April 17, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 III/Ill, 7.?!

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Eda/2'72, (a JVorZ/z Fatented Dec. 1933 UNITED STATES TABLE Look Edwin W. North, Rockford, 111., assignor to Y National Look 00., Rockford, 111., a. corporation of Delaware Application Ap'ril17, iosnserial No. 530,866

12 Claims.

This invention relates to fastening devices in general and more particularly to such a device especially well adapted for usein securing together two sections of a separable table top.

, 6 Devices of this character are usually manufac-,-

not heretofore present in devices of this char acter or which have not been incorporated due to attempts at economical manufacture.

For example, table top latches heretofore have not been fully automatically operable in any sense, that is, it has been necessary to manually operate the latch to some extent, It is within the contemplation of this invention to provide a latch which is fully automatic and which will automatically assume latched position when the sections of the table top are closed regardless of the position in which the latch may have been left, due to prioroperations, and which will permit closing of the table sections regardless of the position of the latch, and to combine such automatic features into a latch which will positively separate the table sections when moved into unlatched position. i 1

Other and further objects of this invention,

such as the provision of means for positively'closing the latch members regardless of warping of table sections, and their corresponding advantages will be apparent as the same becomes better understood froman examination of the following description given in connection withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an under plan section of av table having a latching device embodying the principles of this invention attached thereto, the table being shown in closed position,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the table in open position,

Fig. 3 is an under plan elevation of a latching device shownin latched position,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the latching mechanism in unlatched oropen'position,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustratingone .of the automatic features and the latch in the act of being locked,

about pivot 8 in a clockwise direction to cause Fig. 6is a partial sideelevation of the latch in close d position, and; v

Fig. '7 is a partial side elevation of ahandle actuating mechanism. v 1 Referring more particularly to the drawings, the table top is illustrated as having two Iseparablesections l and 2 slidable upon guides 3. The table section 1 is provided with a latch keeper or" strike 4 along one edge, the end of which projects beyond theedgeof the sectionandterminates inthe angular --tong1 1e .6 adapted to be engaged bythe latching. mechanisms secured to section 2 of the table top. H I

The latching. mechanism comprises a latch member or hook 7 pivotally connected bya pin 7o 8 to one end of'a pull rod 9 which pin also connectsone end of a link 11 to therod 9." The other end of link 11 is pivotallysecured by a pin 12;to a housing or bracket 13, the latter being fastened adjacent the edge of the table section 7 2 by screws or the like-l4. A spring 15 having one end secured to hook 7 andthe other to housing 13 maintains hook 7 in extended posi-- its pivot 12 will positively unlatch hook 7 against the action of spring15. The hook member ;'7-.is formed with a slot 17 to engage tongue 6 and upon one side of which lies a hook-portion 18 arranged to engage one side of the tongue 6 when in locked position and upon the other 'side of which lies a projecting portion 19 arranged toengage the otherside of tongue 6 to separate the leaves on unlatching movement of the hook.-

. It follows that upon movements of.rod 9, limited by link 11, latch member Twill be swung the member to take a latched position or in a counterclockwise direction to cause .the latch-to takean unlatched position. i In order to actuate rod 9 a handle 21 is provided which is pivoted at one end 22 to a casing 23, the latter being secured to the underside of table section 2 at a point within easy operating reach. It is understood, of course-that rod 9 is of ,sufiicient length to permit the casing to be secured at any desired location The outer end of rod 9 is pivotally secured to handle 21 intermediate its ends by a pin 24 which extends into an arcuate slot 26 formed in the top of casing 23 to limit the movements of the handle. These limiting positions determine the latched and unlatched positions. In moving from unlatched to latched position pin 24 passes beyond a line joining pivot pins 8 and 22 and tension upon rod 9 will therefore tend to maintain the latch locked.

In order to maintain the handle in either one of its two extreme positions a compressionspring,

27 is provided which surrounds a rod 28 having a head portion 29 which engages pin 24,spr,ing 27 being under compression between head 29 and an interior corner of the casing. This corner of the casing is provided with an aperture to permit the free end of rod 28 to project therethrough during the movement of handle 21 from one extreme position to the other.

Itfollows from the above that'as handle 21 is moved about its pivot 22 within its permissible arcuate movement, determined by arcuate slot 26, spring 27 will impart a snap action to the handle so that the handle will always be in either one extreme position or the other.

The foregoing latch mechanism involves several novel and desirable features among which are the following; If the handle 21' is left in open or unlatched position after the table sections have been separated (Fig. 4), and the table sections are pushed together with the handle and associated mechanism in this position, tongue 6 will strike'the projecting portion 19 of hook 7 and rotate hook '7 about pin 12as an axis and push rod '9 and consequently handle-21 toward latched positon. As soon as handle 21 has passed its central position spring 27 will throw the handle and latching mechanisminto fully latched position. On the other hand, should the table sections be separated and the latch mechanism returned to latched position, and an attempt is made to close the table sections, tongue 6 will 'engage'the outer curved surface of the hook portion 18 and swing hook '17 about pin 8as an axis against the action of spring. 15. Hook 7 will yield until tongue 6 has reached its open position (Fig. 5) after which the hook will. snap into closed position in engagement with the rear surface of tongue 6 to force the sametightly into closed position. r

It is also apparentthat should the table sections be slightly warped or the dowel pins swollen or misaligned slightly, the positive action of the hook upon the keeper will permit forcing the table sections together by manipulation of the operating handle.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing features-have been incorporated in combination with a latching member which not only serves to secure the table sectionstightly together but which also functions as a camming means to positively separate the table sections upon unlatching latch member arranged to engage said keeper, an actuating rod for said member, a link pivoted at from said fixed pivot, and means'forurgin'g said point removed therefrom to said'actuating rod andmeans connected to saidlatch for moving the latter about its pivot independently of movements ofsaid rod. I

, 3. In-a latching mechanism, akeeper, a pivoted latch member arranged to engage said keeper, an actuating rod for said member, a link pivoted at one point to a fixed pin and at another point removed therefrom to said actuating rod, a said rod being connected to said latch member and meansconnected to said latch for moving the latter about its pivot independently of move ments' of said rod. l r

4;. In a latchingmechanism, a keeper, a piv oted latch member arranged to engage said keeper, an actuating-rod for said member; a link pivoted at one point to a fixed pin and at another I point removed therefrom to, said actuating rod, said link also being connected to said latch memher and means connected'to saidlatch for mov- 5 ing the latter about its pivot independently of movements of said rod. 5. In alatching mechanism, akeeper, a latch member arranged to engage said keeper, an actuating rod for said member, a link pivoted at 1170 one point to said latch member and at a point removed therefrom to a fixed pivot, said rod being pivotally attached to said link at a point-removed latch member in'one direction.

6. In a latching mechanism, a keeper, a latch member arranged to engage said keeper, an actuating rod for said member, a link-pivoted at one point-to said latch member and at a pointrev moved therefrom to a fixed pivotjsaidrod being 0 pivotally attached to said link at a point removed from said fixed pivot, "and resilient means for urgingsaid latch member in one direction.

'7. Ina latching mechanism, a keeper, a latch member arranged to engage said l reep'er, an actuating rod for said member, a link pivoted at one point to said latch member andat a'point'removed therefrom to a fixed pivot, said rod being pivotallyattached to said link atja point removed fr'om'said fixed pivot, and means perma- 'nently associated'with said mechanism for imparting'a snap action to said rod. v 8. In a latching mechanism, a keeper, a pivoted latch member arranged I to engage said keeper, an actuating rod for said latch member,

saidlatch member being connected to said 'rod for movements therewith andfor independent movements relatively thereto, and resilient means connected to said rod for imparting a'snap action tosaid'rod." 1

9.In a latching mechanism, a keeper, a pivoted latch member arranged to engage/said keeper, an actuating rod for said latchmember, said latch member being connected to said rod for movements therewith and for independent M5 movements relatively thereto, means for resisting said independent movements, and means for imparting a snap action tosaidrod.

10. Ina latching mechanism, a keeper, :a pivoted latch member arranged to engage said 150 associated with said member for impartinga keeper to selectively draw said keeper thereto'and positively force said keeper therefrom when rotated in opposite directions, an actuating memher for moving said latch member into latched and unlatched position, and a spring acting upon said member for imparting a snap action to said actuating member.

11. In a latching mechanism, a keeper, a pivoted latch member arranged to engage said keeper to selectively draw said keeper thereto and positively force said keeper therefrom when rotated in opposite directions, said latch member being mounted for bodily movement about a pivot lying without the member and for pivotal movement about a pivot within said member, an actuating member for moving said latch member into latched and unlatched position, and a spring snapaction to said actuating member.

12. In a latching mechanism, a keeper a pivoted latch member arranged to engage said,

ber forimparting a snap action to said actuating member.

' EDWIN NOR'I'H. 

